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LETTER FROM JOHN D. LEE TO BRIGHAM YOUNG

HARMONY, WASHINGTON
CO., U. T.,
November 20th, 1857

To His
Excellency, Gov. B. Young,
Ex-Officio and Superintendent of Indian Affairs:

DEAR SIR: My
report under date May 11th, 1857, relative to
the Indians over whom I have charge as farmer, showed a friendly
relation
between them and the whites, which doubtless would have continued to
increase
had not the white mans been the
first aggressor, as was the case with Capt. Fancher's company of
emigrants,
passing through to California about the middle of September last, on
Com Creek,
fifteen miles south of Fillmore City, Millard County. The company there
poisoned the meat of an ox, which they gave the Pah Vant Indians to
eat,
causing four of them to die immediately, besides poisoning a number
more. The
company also poisoned the water where they encamped, killing the cattle
of the
settlers. This unguided policy, planned in wickedness by this company,
raised
the ire of the Indians, which soon spread through the southern tribes,
firing
them up with revenge till blood was in their path, and as the breach,
according
to their tradition, was a national one, consequently any portion of the
nation
was liable to atone for that offense.

About the 22d
of September, Capt. Fancher and company fell
victims to their wrath, near
Mountain Meadows; their cattle and horses were shot down in every
direction,
their wagons and property mostly com­mitted to the flames. Had they
been the
only ones that suffered we would have less cause of complaint. But the
following company of near the same size
had many of their men shot down near BeaverCity,
and had it not been for the interposition of the citizens at that
place, the
whole company would have been massacred
by the enraged Pah Vants. From this place they were
protected by
military force, by order of Col. W.H. Dame, through the territory,
besides
providing the company with interpreters, to help them through to the Los Vaagus. On the Muddy, some three
to five hundred Indians attacked the company, while travel­ing, and
drove off
several hundred head of cattle, telling the company that if they fired
a single
gun that they would kill every soul. The inter­preters tried to
regain the
stock, or a portion of them, by presents, but in vain. The Indians told
them to
mind their own business, or their lives would not be safe. Since that
occurrence no company has been able to pass without some of our
interpreters to
talk and explain matters to the Indians.

Friendly feelings yet
remain between the natives and settlers
and I have no hesitancy in saying that it will increase so long an we
treat
them kindly, and deal honestly toward them. I have been blest in my
labors the
last year. Much grain has been raised for the Indians.

I
herewith furnish you the account of W.H. Dame, of Parowan, for cattle, wagons, etc.